One-piece electric light socket



y 29, 1952 A. TISCIONE 2,605,317

ONE-PIECE ELECTRIC LIGHT SOCKET Filed July 16, 1948 INVENTOR. ANTHONY TISCIONE Patented July 29, 1952 aONEJIECE ELECTRIC LIGHT SOCKET Anthony Tiscione, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application July 16, 1948, Serial No. 39,145

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new hand useful improvements inilig'ht bulbsocketgand, more particularly, the aim of Lthe 1inven'tion i'sto provide a novel andvaluablesocketcharacterized by the fact thatthesocket is'formedas a one-piecebody of dielectric plastic material, carrying, as elements anchored insitu in .the body during the molding thereof, the two conductive terminals for engaging a bulb inserted into the socket and for placing such bulb in circuitwith asuitable source of electric current.

Thereby an, exceedingly inexpensive, long-lived and dependably functioning socket, and one ideally adapted for use in Christmas tree'lighting, is provided.

By thepresent "invention, not on'ly'aresuch additional partsas terminal screws or :other specially to be manipulated connecting means entirely dispensed with,,an'advantage which. is obtainable pursuant 'tothe proposal f'my earlier Patent No. 2,466;566i.granted April 1.5, 194.9,but also, inlieu :of "the .plural 'part socket "bodylplisclosed in my earlier Patent N o. 2,534,80t granted December 19, .1950, there is provided'the' onepiece body aforesaid. proposed inthe'earlier of my prior'patents, bare'd or stripped sections of insulated wires are used in "connection with the socket body;yet"these.do'not have'to be inserted into the body after "the making thereof, but, according to the present-invention, these wires, at baredportionsthereoiare the elements which provide the socket terminalsand whichas above stated 'arethe elementsanchored in'situ inthe one-piece socket-body during the molding thereof.

A feature of the present invention isthat'in thus anchoring said wires in the socket body; they are preferably anchored in said body'by embedment therein not only of the said bared portions of the wires but also at wire portions adjacent to said bared"portions,-withthe result thatparts of the insulative sheathing of thewires are also embedded in said body. This fortifies the anchorages of "the socket terminals, and, furthermore, insurance is had thatno portion of'a wire beyond the exterior of the socket body will ever accidentally becomebared.

Modifications or the present invention -pro-- pose arrangements wherein metallic clips are mounted upon the parallel wires-at-spaced points along the length thereof in a manner -'to have the one-piece'sockets'molded upon the wires with the clips exposed within bulb receiving'openings of the sockets sotha't'when bulbs-are-screwed into the bulb receiving opening-s, the terminal contacts of the bulbs will make a good electrical contact with the metallic clips mounted vonthe wires.

It is a further object of the present invention to construct the clips so that they will have prongs pressed intolthe-insulationin a manner f to hold the metallic' clips in position on the wires and to make a good electrical contact with the metallic wire strandsencased within the insulation without requiring baring of the strands.

It is a furtherobject of the-present invention to construct a one-piece,- light bulb socket which is simple anddurable-and which may be manufactured and. sold at i a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension ofthe invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be hadtothe following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which-the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth. I

In the accompanying v drawings forming a material part of thisdisclosure:

Fig. 1 is a -top perspective view of vaone-piece lamp socket body constructed in accordance with the present invention and particularly well adapted for usein'connection with Christmas tree illumination.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionalview taken on-th line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is also a verticalsectional View taken on the line 33 of Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectionalview-taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2..

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectionillustrating armodification.

Fig. 6 is .a detail elevational view, showing :fragmentarily a possible. type :of wire which could be used.

Fig. 7 is asimilar view, .showingianother 3105- sible type of wire-whichrcould be used.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view,;showing in 'dot and dash various tones f a string of socket bodies anchored to :a :pair of wires :byubeing molded "about the .latter .at spaced bar'ed' portions of both said wirescand at suitable intervals along the 'length'thereof;

Fig. 9 shows a three-part mold tor'thus-molding a socket body about 'bared 'por tionso-f tw-o wires, this view being mainly'a verticalsection taken on the line 8-4! ofFig. "1 0.

Fig. 10 shows said mold,'b'ut with one-of the three parts thereof, said part shown-in top-plan and also shown as being partially-withdrawn in Fig. 9, shown as fully entered into the main mold parallel wires used in the .form

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of one of the metal- I Fig. 16 is another vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the one-piece socket body lic clips, per se.

pitch angle of the thread l1, said portion 20 extends over a suitable distance along a fraction of one turn of said thread in such manner that said portion 20 in efiect lies in and forms part of the groove between an adjoining pair of turns of the thread, when such thread is molded at the portion I! of the body [5. At the same time, the bared portion 20 of the wire 20 is of short enough length to insure that the portions 20 and 20 of .the wire 20 are irremovably buried in the body [,5 at its wall portionslying outwardly of its said portion l1.

' The portions 2|, 2i and 2| of the wire 2| constructed in accordance with a still further modification of the invention. V Fig. 1'7 is a side elevational view of one of the of the invention shown in Fig. '16.

Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken on the line l8I8ofFig.l7.

r Fig. 19 is a plan view of'the'metallic clip per se. Referring to the drawings. more in'detail, and first to Figs. l-4,-I5 denote'sthe socket body as a whole, the samebeing shown as having an" interior at the top-of which is a short-cylindrical neck 16, below which is'a threaded portion H for taking the base of a bulb having a screwbase,'and below the threaded portion I1 a'chamber l8 shaped to receiv'e the-lower end of said base with the central lowermost button-like terminal thereof at the bottom of said chamber. The threaded portion H is employed in lieu of the ordinary brassor othermetal portion or part included in'the usual socket for contacting the matching threaded metallic side wall of the screwlike base ofan ordinary bulb.

The socket body [5 as illustrated in Fig. 1 is shown as provided with an added fitment lfi to adapt the socket for convenient use in Christmas tree lighting, which fitment or equivalent may be attached in any suitable way to the 'socket" body after the molding'thereof, as by a screw applied to a threaded recess in the bottom of said body and matchable with an aperture through the foot portion I9 of said fitment, or, if desired, said tment or an equivalent may be integrated with the socket body by having its said foot portion or an equivalent portion embedded insitu in' said body during the molding thereof. i

The form of the invention now being described is one wherein the new socket body is one to be used with a plurality of others thereof, for connection in parallel, as is desirable in Christmas tree lighting. Therefore, the two wires 20 and 2! having bared portions thereof to be anchored in situ in the socket body during molding of the latter are shown as extending all through the body. It will be noted, further, that the length of the wire 20 thus extended through the body I5 includes a bared section 20* and two portions 20 and 20 of the wire where covered with insulative sheathing; and that the length of the wire 2| thus extended through the body [5 includes a bared section 2i thereof and two portions Zl and 2l of the wire where covered with insulative sheathing.

The portions 20 20 and 20 of the wire 20 are shown as arranged'substantially horizontally across the socket body [5, but so that, with the portion 2!! preferably slightly obliquely inclined,

at an angle substantially corresponding to the are also shown as arranged horizontally across the socket'body l5, with the bared portion 2W.

as tothe-entirety of its thickness or as to the upper part of its thickness, exposed substantially horizontally of the bottom of the chamber I8, and with the portions 20 and 20 of said wire, inclusive of the insulative sheathing thereon, irremovably buried in the body H5 at its wall portions oppositesaid chamber bottom. I

Fig. 5 illustrates a variation, in that with one wire, as the wire 20' corresponding to the wire 20, is extended substantiallyhorizontally in one direction across the body 15 corresponding to the body I5, the wire 2| corresponding to the wire 2| is extended horizontally through said body [5' with the direction of extension of this wire at an angle to the direction of extension of the wire 20' such angle here shown, by way of example, as approximately'a .right angle.

As indicated in Figs. 6 and 7,, respectively, a wire used pursuant to the, invention may eomprise an insulative sheathing With a conductor core or Wire proper either of solid type or of the braided type. t

In Fig. 8, a plurality of socket bodies are shown as strung at suitable intervals. along a pair of wires 20 and 2|, with one bared portion and two insulatively sheathed or covered portions of each wire embedded in each body pursuant to the invention, as, for instance, explained in connection with Figs. 1-7. Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, illustrative more or less diagrammatically of a molding machine unit for producing the new socket body, and for use also if desiredfor successively adding to the two wires said socket bodies one after the other, said unit i shown as comprising a basal part 22, this having a suitable gate 23 for admission of the plastic material, as by injection, an upper separable part 24, and a third part 25 for spiral advance into and similar withdrawal from, the main mold cavity, as indicated by the arrow 26; such main cavity being marked 21, and being partially carried by the part 22 and partially carried by the part 24. l The separation plane of saidparts 22 and 24, shown in Fig. 10, is in accordance with the line AB of Fig. 3. r

Also in the said molding unit areniinor cavities, these for receiving the insulated portions of the wires which are to immediately adjoin the insulated portions of the wires to be embedded in the socket body. Said minorcavities arefour in number, all of cylindrical crossesection for snugly fitting about the sheathing on the wires at portions therealong just outwardlypf the portions thereof to be embedded together with .:the:

sheathing in the socket body, 1

Two of said minor cavities are respectively marked 23 and 29, with the lower halves of these carried by the basal part 22 and with theirtop halves carried by the upper partjfl. In-Fig. 9,

a wire, with its insulatedportions placed in the minor cavities 28 and zfl, so as properly to extend into the main mold cavity 27 the bared portion of said wire: and also insulatedtportions thereof immediately adjoining opposite endllimits of said bared portion, isindicated dotand dash at 30.

The other'two of said-minor cavities are respectively marked 3| and 32, also with the ,lower halves of these carried by the ,basal part 22 and withtheir top halves carri'ed'jby' the upper .part "24. 'InFig. 9,a"wire, with. its insulated portions limits of said bared portion,ris indicated. in dot 1'5 and, dash at 33.

In order to position said bared wire portion of the wire 3! properly relative to the thread to be molded in the socket body by the threaded portion 34 of the mold part 25, the upper mold part 24 has a pair of depending transverse ribs 35 and 35', each of these fittable into a recess, such as the one indicated in Fig. at 36, in the basal mold part 22; and each of the minor cavities 3! and 32 has the top half, thereof, at the bottom of one of said ribs and the bottom half thereof at the bottom of the appropriate recess.

Referring to Fig. 11, here the invention is shown as applied, in one of a possible variety of ways, to provide a socket body l5" wherein the bared portions of the wires embedded therein are at the ends of said wires; so that the socket body is served in use by a pair of wires solely allotted thereto. These wires, marked 31 and 38, have embedded in the socket body their insulation covered portions 31 and 38 and in addition thereto merely their bared end portions 31 and 38 As here shown, the portions last-mentioned have bent terminal shapings as shown, for setting up a positive interlock with the molded socket body. The bared terminal portions of both wires may, to this end, be shaped either as shown in the case of the wire 31 or as shown in the case of the wire 38 or otherwise equivalently bent.

In the medication of the inventtion shown in Figs. 12 to 15, the construction of the one-piece socket body is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, except that instead of baring portions of the parallel wires 40 and 4|, each is provided, at points where they pass through the socket body IS, with metallic clips 42 exposed within the hollow of the socket body l5 to be engaged by the terminal contacts of an electric light bulb engaged within the socket body l5.

Each of the metallic clips 42 is alike in construction and is provided at its ends with pointed portions 43 pressed through the insulation of the wires 49 and 41 to engage the strands of the Wire encased within the insulation. Thus it is apparent that the pointed portions 43 serve .the dual purpose of anchoring the metallic clips 42 in position upon the wires and also completing the electrical circuit from the metallic strands encased within the insulation of the wire to the terminals of the light bulb.

In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the first form of the present invention and like reference numerals identify like parts in each of the several views.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 16 to 19, the construction of the one-piece socket body is similar to that shown in Figs. 12 to 15, differing only in the formation of the metallic clips 42, and like reference numerals are used to identify like parts.

use ;lon itudinally zcurved. to extend obliquely rover ;.aboutoneehalf ofitheiinsulationof the wires. The pointedlnortions 43 flex-tend from'vthe. ends 'of the 11135 M sozasl t9 zenterithexinsulationof the wires yfromphllosi-te .sides thereof. With this construci-fiongoed electrical contact is. made -with .:the

6 I..this term or. the inventionthesmetallic clips xou tedzoin the ;par,allel;wires:r.4:01and. 41 are strands .of wire. encased fwithinzthe insulation and the metall-ic.clips .142 are m0re:;securely:'anchored ..in-.posi;tion 1.111101; the wires 40: and 14.1 invention chaszbeen described LES ..used: in

device to be, or having a part to be, inserted in an electric socket.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An electric socket comprising a one-piece body molded of a dielectric material and formed with a bulb receiving opening for the threaded portion of an electric light bulb,'parallel electric wires having outer insulation casings and molded Within said body and having portions exposed at spaced points within said bulb receiving opening, and metallic clips mounted on the portions of said wires exposed within said bulb receving opening to make electrical contact with the terminals of a light bulb screwed in position in said opening, said metallic clips being curved longitudinally to extend obliquely over about one-half of said wires, said clips being formed at their ends with pointed portions piercin the insulation casings of the wires from diametrically opposite sides and making electrical contact with wire strands enclosed within said insulation casings.

2. An electric socket comprising a one-piece body molded of insulation material, said body having a threaded recess for x,threadedly receiving the threaded base portion of an electric light bulb, parallel electric wires having outer insulation casings enclosing wire strands and molded within said body and having portions exposed Within spaced points of said recess, and metallic clips mounted on the portions of said wires exposed within said recess to make electrical contact with the terminals of a light bulb screwed into position within said recess, said clips being elongated and bent longitudinally to extend about one-half the circumference of said wires, and means at the ends of said clips securing said clips in position on said wires and piercing said insulation casings to make electrical contact with said wire strands.

3. An electric socket comprising a one-piece body molded of insulation material, said body having a threaded recess for threadedly receiving the threaded base portion of an electric light bulb, parallel electric Wires having outer insulation casings enclosing wire strands and molded within said body and having portions exposed withinspaced points of said recess, and metallic clips mounted'onthe portions of said wires exposed within said recess to make'electrical contactwith the terminals of a light bulb screwed into position .within said recess, said clips being elongated and bent longitudinally to extend about one-half the circumference of said wires, and means'at the ends of said clips securing said clipsi'n position on said Iwires and piercing said insulation casings to make electrical contact with said wire strands, said securing means comprising pointed portions formed on the ends of said metallic clips and extended toward one another to .pierce said insulation casings from opposite sides and engagesaid wire strands;

'- =ANTI-IONY TISCIONE.

I 8 REFERENCES CITED -The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED sTATEs PATENTS Nurnber 7 Name Date 7 1,679,338, Rothenberg July 31, 1928 2,229,403 a Benander Jan. 21, 1941 10 2,2 5,360 Dessart Dec. 9, 1941 2,360,444 'Po11ock, Oct. 17, 1944 FOREIGN. PATENTS 15 Number Countryi 1 Date 299,880 Germany June 29, 1916 

